Lopatcong, NJ
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Police Department
The mission of the Lopatcong Township Police Department is to protect life and property, maintain public order, and to foster an atmosphere of community commitment between the police and township residents.
Most routine complaints, such as parking violations, minor property damage, and noise violations are not emergencies. If you need to speak with the police about a routine problem, call (908) 859-2211. Officers will assess your situation and handle it in an appropriate and timely manner.
The Lopatcong Township Police Department supports the nationally acclaimed Law Enforcement Against Drugs program. “L.E.A.D” is the current program being taught by LEAD Officer Robert Stefano – their web site is http://www.leadrugs.org/. The mission of this program is to create safer, healthier, free of drugs and violence communities.
As per the NJ Attorney General’s directive, please see our department rules and regulations memo on Drug Testing Sworn Employees, Applicants, and Trainers: Drug Testing Sworn Employees
As per the NJ Attorney General’s directive, AG Directive 2018-6, please see our procedures on T and U Visa Certifications: T Visa & U Visa Certification Procedures
As per the NJ Attorney General's directive, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-4.10, please see our documentation on promoting Diversity in hiring and recruiting: Promoting Diversity in Law Enforcement Recruitment and Hiring
Accident Reports
LexisNexis BuyCrash Report Link
Message from Our Chief of Police 2023
Message from our Chief of Police 2023
LE CCARE - All Law Enforcement and NJ Certified Firearms Instructors:
Internal Affairs/Online Complaint Submissions
Lopatcong Police Department Misconduct Reporting
The members of our agency are committed to providing law enforcement services that are fair, effective, and impartially applied. It is in the best interests of everyone that your complaint about the performance of an individual officer is resolved fairly and promptly. Our agency has formal procedures for investigating your complaint. These procedures are designed to ensure fairness and protect the rights of both citizens and law enforcement officers:
1. Reports or Complaints of officer/employee misconduct must be accepted from any person, including anonymous sources, at any time.
2. Complaints shall be accepted regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status of the complaining party.
3. Your complaint will be sent to a superior officer or a specially trained internal affairs officer who will conduct a thorough and objective investigation.
4. You might be asked to help in the investigation by giving a detailed statement about what happened or providing other important information or documents.
5. All complaints against law enforcement officers are thoroughly investigated. You will be kept informed of the status of the investigation and its ultimate outcome, if requested, and you will provide contact information. The exact discipline imposed is confidential, but you will be advised of the ultimate finding, namely:
A. Sustained: A preponderance of the evidence shows an officer violated any law; regulation; directive, guideline, policy, or procedure issued by the Attorney General or County Prosecutor; agency protocol; standing operating procedure; rule; or training.
B. Unfounded: A preponderance of the evidence shows that the alleged misconduct did not occur.
C. Exonerated: A preponderance of the evidence shows the alleged conduct did occur but did not violate any law; regulation; directive, guideline, policy, or procedure issued by the Attorney General or County Prosecutor; agency protocol; standing operating procedure; rule; or training.
D. Not Sustained: The investigation failed to disclose sufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the allegation.
E. If our investigation shows that a crime might have been committed, the county prosecutor will be notified. You might be asked to testify in court.
F. If our investigation results in an officer being charged with a violation of department rules, you might be asked to testify in a departmental hearing.
G. If our investigation shows that the complaint is unfounded or that the officer acted properly, the matter will be closed.
H. Internal affairs investigations are confidential, and all disciplinary hearings shall be closed to the public unless the defendant officer requests an open hearing.
The Lopatcong Police Department will accept a report of officer misconduct at any time in a number of different ways. The recommended method of filing a complaint is in person at the Lopatcong Police Department located at 232 S. Third Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, however, complaints can also be filed:
- By Email – email the complaint to biscis@lopatcongtwp.com
- By Telephone – Call Lopatcong Police Department Headquarters at (908) 859-1212
- By Mail – mail the complaint to: Lopatcong Police Department, 232 S. Third Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- The officers of this department are held to the highest standard. Public response to these matters is essential in our pursuit of excellence. If you would like to commend an officer for exceptional police work, you may also do so by any of the methods previously mentioned.
The above link is Lopatcong Police Department's Civilian Complaint Information Sheet, translated into English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
The above link is Lopatcong Police Department's Civilian Complaint Report Form, translated into English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Most up to date Internal Affairs Form : www.njoag.gov/iapp
The URL address above is the online homepage of the Internal Affairs Policies & Procedures (IAPP). Any and all updates to the policies and any associated forms and documents will be available there. The current version of IAPP, which went into effect on November 15, 2022, is known as the “November 2022 IAPP” and includes an appendix of fifteen sample forms and documents. These documents provide a standard information sheet and a standard internal affairs form. Both of these documents have been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Haitian, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
2022 Lopatcong Police Internal Affairs Annual Report
Alarm Registration
All residents and businesses that have alarm systems are required to register them with the police department (local ordinance 69-The form is available through the police records clerk during normal business hours. The cost of doing so is $10.00 annually.
There are two types of alarm registration:
Central Station is connected to a private alarm company monitoring station. It is the private company that notifies the police to respond to the alarm.
Local Alarm produces a signal or sounding device for the purpose of summoning the police; it is not connected to a private monitoring station.
Please Note!
False alarms are an unnecessary expenditure of police response time. Township residences and businesses having alarms will receive a warning letter after the first or second false alarm during one calendar year. After three false alarms in a single calendar year, the violator will be issued a summons under local ordinance 67-7. Fines are set by the violations bureau and are increased for subsequent false alarms during the remainder of that year.
3rd false alarm – $50.00 fine plus $25.00 for costs.
Subsequent false alarms – $100.00 fine plus $25.00 for costs.
Body Cams
Discipline Reports
Annual Major Discipline Reporting Form-2023 (2)
Domestic Violence
Every person has the right to feel safe and secure in their own home. If you are a victim of domestic violence, call 911. Officers will respond immediately. If the situation demands, we can, at any time, help you obtain a temporary restraining order against your attacker. We also want you to call us if you think you may be in a potentially abusive situation, and are afraid for yourself or your children. If you need to speak to someone about your legal options and local services, we suggest you contact the Warren County Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center (908)453-4181 or the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline @ (800) 572-7233. Trained counselors are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions and provide guidance. All calls are completely confidential.
Early Warning System
It is the policy of this department to implement and utilize an early warning system for tracking and reviewing incidents of risk and provide timely intervention consistent with Attorney General Guidelines. An early warning system is designed to detect patterns and trends before the conduct escalates into more serious problems. The primary intent is to address potential problems through the use of appropriate management and supervisory intervention strategies before negative discipline become necessary.